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- After the 2012 launch of the new generation of the Mazda 6 and the the launch in 2013 of the Mazda 3 (segment C), the Japanese manufacturer based in Hiroshima will launch in 2014 the new generation of the Mazda 2 (segment B ).

- The new Mazda 2 will have two engines, both designed by Mazda, one 1.5 petrol and one 1.5 diesel. No electric, or hybrid engines have been announced yet. It will use the modular platform of the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6, which according to the manufacturer means it will be a hundred kilos lighter. This platform will also provide a basis for a future segment B SUV, the CX3.

- This model has been on the decline for a few years now as its global sales reached 130 000 units in 2012, 160 000 in 2011, and even 180 000 in 2010. The objectives of Mazda's new B-segment model is 200 000 units per year. Which will rank it among competing Japanese brands, behind the Honda Jazz (390 000 sales), Toyota Yaris (340 000 sales), but before the Nissan Micra (156 000 sales).

- The new Mazda 2 will be manufactured in the Hofu plant in Japan and exported  worldwide. The Hofu plant currently produces the Mazda 3 (273 000 units) and Mazda 6 (149 000 units) by adding the future production of the Mazda 2 (100 000 units) by 2014 the plant will produce over 522 000 units.

- Mazda experienced a 24% growth in Europe in the first half of 2014. In 2013, the manufacturer's sales had already increased by 18%. Recent innovations have boosted its sales and the new Mazda 2 should amplify the phenomenon. In 2013, Mazda sold 106 000 Mazda 2 in the world, of which 44 000 in Japan and 21 000 in Europe, its two main markets.

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- In China, the natural gas vehicle (NGV) market for passenger cars is only made up of flexible-fuel vehicles (two separate fuelling systems that enable them to run both on natural gas and gasoline). Commercial vehicles market could be 100% natural gas or flexible fuel. 
The production of passenger NGVs rose by 18.4% between 2012 and 2013 reaching 103 871 units (to be compared to 20 420 units of Hybrid and Electric vehicles). It is the first time that NGVs have exceeded 100 000 units.

- It appears that the main factor behind this production increase is rising demand for clean-fuel vehicles due to worsening air pollution in major cities.

- By region of origin, European carmakers are still the market leaders with 41 000 sales although their market share decreased by 13% (between 2012 and 2013). Followed by Korean with some 30 000 units reaching 30% market share (+51%). The strongest increase was recorded for Chinese carmakers with +82% reaching 28 000 units. Last but not least, Japanese market share dropped by 10% reaching 4 000 units produced.

- By model, the leader is the Hyundai Elantra with 15 000 units followed by the VW Jetta that decreased by 35% to 12 000 units, slightly ahead of the Citroen Elysée also down by almost 35% reaching 11 000 units.

- In the past, NGVs where intended exclusively for public transportation, but some local governments are planning to explore the private market as well.  For instance, starting from 2014, Beijing city intends to launch NGVs for private use. Moreover, between 2013 and 2017 it hopes to sell 30 000 units per year and has also planned to open 70 natural gas station across the city.

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- The Japanese market has recovered well in the first half of 2014 (+10.8%), after a year 2013 where sales remained stable at 5.37 million vehicles (PC + LCV), compared to 2012.

- The 2012 and 2013 figures are much higher than those of 2011, the year of the tsunami (4 210 000 units). Sale figures are however still far off those recorded between 1988 and 1997. Figures that were largely over 6 million annual units, while in 2014 it is unlikely that the market will exceed 5.8 million units.

- In April 2014, the Japanese government implemented new tax deductions on vehicles that were compliant with the 2015 consumption standards which boosted the sales of these environmentally friendly vehicles.

- By manufacturer, Honda increased the most in the first half of 2014 compared to the first half of 2013, with a 30% increase in sales, followed by Isuzu (+22%), ahead of Suzuki (+12%) that was slightly in front of Nissan (+11 %). Only Subaru declined year over year with a decrease of 8%. In the first 6 months of 2014  Imports of foreign cars grew by 8%, but they still represent  under 5% of the market, which is a very low rate compared to  that of Europe where imports represented 15% of the market in the first 6 months of 2014 or the United States that imports 25% of its vehicles. Finally, midgets (Kei cars) represent 41% of total market in 2014 against 39% in 2013.

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